Journal box lubricating pad



May 1l; 1937 G. w. DITMORE 2,079,2734

JOURNAL BOX LUBRICATING PAD Filed April 26, 1935 Patented May 11, 1937UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOURNAL BOX LUBRICATING PAD George W.Ditmore,` Albany, N. Y. Application April 26, 1935, Serial No. 18,442 i9 claims.` (C1. sos- 88) The present invention relates to pads adaptedfor use in railway car truck journal boxes, for supplying lubricant tothe journals of truck y axles located in such boxes.

The invention contemplates the provision of a simple and efficientunitary pad of the type described which'is inexpensive to fabricate andeasy `tovapply. Heretofore, and despite the fact i* ,p that it fhas beensuggested from time to time that unitary lubricating pads might beadvantageously employed, it is still customary practice to insertquantities `of loose cotton waste in 'car truck journal boxes, the wastebeing placed between the rotating journal and the bottom of the box,

1'5 thus becoming saturated "with the oil which is also placed in thejournal box and conducting this oil to the `surface of the journal. Evenwhen frequent inspections are'ma'de and the cotton 'waste replaced'oradded to from time to time hot boxesu resulting from an interruption ofthe lsupply to the `rotating journal are of not infrequent occurrence.`The loose waste has also other disadvantages which are fully appreciatedby y those familiar withthe problems of railroad rolling stockmaintenance.

In accordance with the present invention a very I simple type of pad isprovided, this pad being a unitary 'structure insertable into the spacewhich is ordinariiyoccupied by the cotton waste previously referred toand being so designed and constructed that it tends to expand upwardlyto maintain continuous vcontact with the lower surface of :the rotatingjournal. The designcf the padis such that it may not roll within thejournalbox ldespite the action `of the rotating journaland is fabricatedof material which is not only well adapted to conduct oil but possessesabonsiderable' springiness or resiliency while at the fs'ame time ismoderate in cost. Preferably 4'0 the Lmaterial which I employ isrelatively thick 'sheet felt, but it will be appreciated that the iinvention is not limited with respect to the materialactually used.

VIn the accompanying drawing several forms of the invention are`illustrated by way of example:

y Figure l illustrates in perspective one of theseveralproposedembodiments -of the improved lubricating pad;

V Figure 2shows the same pad n cross section 4after having been insertedin a journal box, .which box-is also shown in cross section;

, .Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through a journal box inwhich this form of pad has been inserted;

Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figures l and 2, respectively, butshowing a different form of the invention in perspective and in section;

Figures 6 and 'l show a third form of the-pad in perspective and insection; and Y Figures 8 and 9 show a still further form of padconstructed inaccordance with the invention, in perspective and sectionrespectively.

The pad shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 comprises a single sheet ofrelatively thick, springy, or resilient felt, indicated at l0. Themid-portion `of the felt sheet is curved to form a tube and portionsthereof parallel to the axis of the tube and equally spaced from theedges thereof are suitably secured together as by means of stitching IIvor by any other kind of securing means, for instance metallic staples.The ends of the sheet lying within the tubular portion Ill are reverselycurved, that is, curved away from each other as shown, and have theirends preferably in contact with the inner wall of the tubular section.

Prior to insertion in a journal box the pad is generally oval in crosssection but after insertion, in which insertion itis verticallycompressed in order that it may enter the space under the journal I2,the pad has the cross section shown in Figure 2,. the upper portion ofthe tube I0 being depressed and the end portions of the sheet which liewithin the tubular portion ID occupying the positions in which they areshown, the upper surfaces of these end portions closely contacting withthe inner wall of the tube I0 and the ends thereof preferably bearingagainst the inner wall of tube I0 as shown. The ends of the sheet whichlie within tube I0 provide what may be designated as a resilientinterior structure which reinforces the pad and supports that portion ofthe tube Ill which rests against the journal I2, supplementing thenatural resiliency of the wall of tube I0 and maintaining this walltightly pressed against the journal at all times.

The resilient inner structure may be formed in various ways. In Figures4 and 5 of the drawing, I'disclose an inner member I3 arched intransverse section, the ends of which are secured, as by stitches I4, tothe inner wall of the felt tube I5. Tube I5 comprises a rectangularsheet of felt having its ends secured together as by stitches I6. Whenthe pad in question is inserted in a journal box and is verticallycompressed, the uppermost portion of the arched member I3, which in thisinstance comprises the inner reinforcing structure, is engaged anddistorted by the inner wall of that portion of the outer tube I5 whichis deiiected downwardly to the greatest extent and exerts a constantpressure upon this portion of the outer tube in an upward direction,maintaining the same at all times in contact with the journal. Ifdesired, the longitudinal edges of the arch member i3 may be providedwith projecting portions I'l which extend through suitable aperturesformed in the wall of the tubular member I5, thus more firmly securingthe two parts of the pad together and preventing displacement of theends of the arch member I3 relatively to the Wall of the tube I5.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and '7 the outer memberI8 is formed as a continuous felt tube and likewise the inner supportingcore or structure I9. The inner tube I9 is secured to the outer tube I8at spaced points, as by lines of stitching 2U, so that substantial areasof these tubes are always in mutual contact, this portion of the padhaving in reality a double wall. When inserted within a journal box thepad is vertically compressed as shown in Figure '7 and exerts asubstantial pressure against the bottom of the journal.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9 the outer tube 22is formed in two portions 23 and 24 the edges of which are securedtogether, as by stitching 25. The ends of the arch-like inner member 26are secured to the upper surface of the smaller member 23, along themargins thereof, as by stitching 21, this attachment being effected,preferably, prior to securing the members 23 and 24 together. Archmember 26 may or may not have projecting lugs passing through suitableapertures formed in the element 23, as desired. When placed in a journalbox, arch 26 resiliently supports that portion of the tube 24 which isin immediate contact with the journal 28.

In all forms of the invention the inner core or supporting structure notonly comprises means for pressing portion of the outer tube against thejournal but likewise comprises a bracing or stiifening means for oneside of the outer tube, having the eifect of so supporting or bracingthis tube interiorly that it may not roll in the journal box under theaction of the rotating journal. The inner supporting cores may be formedin other ways but, as will be understood, will function in each instanceto not only so brace the outer tube as to prevent its rolling in thejournal box but also to resiliently support that portion of the tubewhich contacts with the journal. In each instance a tab is provided,projecting from the end of the pad, and by means of which it may bereadily grasped as by a hook or other tool and withdrawn from thejournal box for the purpose of inspection and repair or replacement ifinjured or worn out. One of these tabs is illustrated in each of theperspective views, though not specically described inasmuch as anysuitable device capable of being grasped or engaged by a tool may bemade use of.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A pad adapted for use in a railroad car truck journal box forsupplying lubricant to the journal of an axle, said pad comprising asingle curved sheet of springy oil conducting material, longitudinallyextending portions thereof remote from the ends being secured together,and the end portions being confined within the tube thus formed.

2;The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the free ends of thesheet are cuived away from each other and the end edges lie adjacent theinner surface of the wall of the tube.

3. A pad adapted for use in the journal box of a railroad car truck forsupplying lubricant to the journal of an axle, said pad comprising anouter tube of relatively thick felt or like oil conducting springy sheetmaterial, and an inner arch of the same material, said arch having itsends secured to the inner wall of the outer tube.

4. 'I'he combination set forth in claim 3 in which the wall of the outertube is provided with spaced apertures, the ends of the inner archprojecting through said apertures.

5. A pad adapted for use in a journal box of a railroad car truck forsupplying lubricant to the journal of an axle, said pad comprising atube of relatively thick felt or like oil conducting springysheetmaterial, said tube being transversely compressible so as to beinsertable between a journal and the wall of a journal box and havingwithin the same a longitudinally extending core of the same material,said core having portions permanently attached to the tube and portionsbowed away from the wall of said tube and normally out of contacttherewith, said core being compressed only when the tube is transverselycompressed, and then serving to yieldingly urge the outer surface of thetube against the journal and to' prevent rolling of the tube under theaction of h the rotating journal.

6. A pad adapted for use in a journal box of a railroad car truck forsupplying lubricant to the journal of an axle, said pad comprising atube of relatively thick felt or like oil conducting springy sheetmaterial, said tube being transversely compressible so as to beinsertable between a journal and the wall of a journal box and havingwithin the same a longitudinally extending core of thel same material,said core having portions attached to the tube and portions arched awayfrom the wall of said tube and normally out of contact therewith, saidcore being compressed only when the tube is transversely compressed, andthen serving as the sole means, aside from any inherent resistance ofthe material of the tube, for yieldv ingly urging the outer surface ofthe tube against the journal and to prevent rolling of the tube underthe action of the rotating journal.

7. A pad adapted for use in the journal box` of a railroad car truck forsupplying the lubricant to the journal of an axle, said pad comprisingan outer tubular member of relatively thick felt or like oil conductingspringy material, said tube being transversely compressible so as to beinsertnal box, an inner tubular member of the same material as the firstnamed member, said inner tubular member being of a smaller diameter thansaid rst named member and disposed eccentrically thereto, one side ofthe inner tubular member being secured to the inner wall of the outertubular member at a point remote from said journal and adjacent saidjournal box Wall.

8. The combination set forth in claim '7 in which, when the pad isapplied to a journal box, the respective centers of said tubular membersand the center of the'journal box lie in a straight line.

9. A pad adapted for use in a journal box of a railroad car truck forsupplying lubricant to the journal of an axle, said pad comprising atube of relatively thick felt or like oil conducting springy sheetmaterial, said tube being trans- .55 able between a journal and the Wallof the jouri versely compressible so as to be insertable between ajournal and the wall of a journal box and having within the same alongitudinally extending core of similar material, said core havingportions attached to the tube at the journal box contacting wallthereof, and portions extending toward the journal contacting Wall ofthe tube but out of contact therewith when undistorted as when removedfrom the journal box and 10 brought into contact with the tube only whenthe tube is transversely compressed for insertion, the area of contactbetween the core and the journal contacting Wall of the tube being ofconsiderable extent when the pad is thus compressed and disposeddirectly below said journal, said core then serving to yieldingly urgethe outer surface of the tube against the journal and to prevent rollingof the tube under the action of the rotating journal.

GEORGE W. DITMORE.

